#james bates

By James Bates Fresh lilacs bloomingLily-of-the-valley tooSpringtime scent so sweet. Springtime misting rainTender garden shoots reachingThirstily drinking.Deep woods forest pathLeafy green canopy aboveSleepy shade below.Late day setting sunLast light filters through the treesBlanket of soft warmth. Jim lives in a small town twenty miles west of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His stories have appeared…

By Jim Bates Fall was her favorite season. Smiling and happy she walked woodland trails collecting leaves and weeds and grasses. She enjoyed the feel of nature in her hands she liked to say, especially the colorful leaves. Sometimes she’d take him along, holding his tiny hand gently like she held her collections. He’d follow her lead picking and choosing among the fall foliage. Like she did, he…

By Jim Bates He was quiet that fall. Withdrawn. He’d started classes in a new grade at a new school. Old friends were drifting away. He couldn’t help it, but he felt sad much of the time. He didn’t know why. He took to walking in the nearby woods after school. He found, surprisingly, that he liked the feeling of aloneness, of being by himself with his thoughts, mulling things over and thinking…

By Jim Bates Deep in the Northwoods lake country, the water glistened jewel-like under the bright sun. Waves were lapping on the shoreline bringing with them a gentle cadence to the day. The sand on the beach was scorching hot but seven-year-old Jack didn’t mind. He sat on the shore half in and half out of the water enjoying the pleasant feeling of his butt being cold and his shoulders baking…